Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio likes what he has seen from Connor Cook, and he said on Tuesday Cook remains the starting quarterback.Brandon Howell | Mlive.com

EAST LANSING — Connor Cook didn't do enough the first 58 minutes of Saturday's game at Notre Dame to be Michigan State's choice at quarterback for the final drive.

But Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday's Big Ten Coaches Teleconference that Cook has done enough to remain the starter as the team looks to bounce back from a 17-13 loss to the Irish.

"I think we're comfortable with Connor going forward,'' Dantonio said. "He did some good things, we played him 58 minutes, and he did a lot of good things.

"We always look at people how, they mature as the season continues, whether it's a younger player or an older player,'' he said. "We evaluate things as they come. Right now, as I see it, Connor Cook is our quarterback and he's played well enough to be in that position as the starting quarterback.''

Dantonio turned to fifth-year senior Andrew Maxwell at quarterback for the final drive.

Maxwell won the offseason quarterback competition and started the first game, but he was replaced when the coaching staff determined it needed a more mobile quarterback on account of the receivers struggling to get open and catch passes.

With 2:11 left in Saturday's game, Cook was pulled in favor of Maxwell, who co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said is the best passer of the three quarterbacks who have played for the Spartans this season.

Cook was disappointed with Dantonio's decision, and said he didn't understand why he was pulled out of the game.

Tuesday's news that Dantonio is keeping him at starter should make Cook happy as Michigan State (3-1) conducts practices during this bye week leading up to the next game, on Oct. 5 at Iowa.

Cook, a redshirt sophomore, was 16-of-32 passing for 135 yards and one touchdown in the 17-13 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday.

It was Cook's third career start. He was 6-of-11 passing for 32 yards in a 21-6 win against South Florida and 15-of-22 passing for 202 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-17 win over FCS opponent Youngstown State.

Dantonio said throughout spring and fall drills he likes Cook's mobility, but Cook was held to 4 yards rushing on four carries against Notre Dame -- sliding 5 yards short of the first-down marker on one run, and leaving the pocket and getting sacked on another play.

Some of Cook's passing woes were on the receivers, as there were six dropped passes when Cook was under center.

Cook, however, badly overthrew an open receiver in the end zone on a potential touchdown drive, forcing the Spartans to settle for a field goal in a game ultimately decided by four points.

Dantonio has said the Spartans will make some changes during the bye week, but he's not tipping his hand as to whether any of the changes will be major in nature.

At weak side linebacker, where Jairus Jones was lost to an MCL knee injury in the first quarter, Dantonio said Taiwan Jones will become more of an every-down linebacker.

Previously, Jairus Jones was playing in passing situations, while Taiwan Jones was used more in run situations.

Mylan Hicks, a 5-foot-11, 196-pound cornerback, will be moved to weak side linebacker, Dantonio said.

"The plan is to move Mylan Hicks to the star (weakside linebacker) position, he'll give us an added guy there, he'll be able to do a lot of the same things as Jairus did,'' Dantonio said. "We also have Kyler Elsworth we can move out there.''